It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing of our friend and colleague, Sandy Adams. Sandy joined the Agency in 2011 and quickly became an integral part of our Health Benefits department. She brought a wealth of knowledge relating to health benefits, benefit providers and the...

I remember our inaugural newsletter of 1991 in which the headline read, “We’re 100 Years Young.” The following words were in the body of the Message from the President, “Change happens quickly now, and those changes directly affect your insurance coverage. It’s our responsibility to make sure that your insurance...

Schenectady-based Merriam Insurance, which announced the deal on Tuesday, did not disclose financial terms. The acquisition closed the previous Monday. Corporate Benefit Planning is located in Latham, NY. Carol Bowman, prior Manager of CBP, said, “We strongly believe that The Merriam Agency will continue the personalized and excellent service we have provided to our valued clients and we are pleased that The Merriam Insurance Agency is available to provide … an expanded service and product line.”

In January of this year, I took my 16-year-old daughter, Kalina, to Haiti for a short-term mission trip. I hoped that, by showing her the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, she would have an appreciation for the bounty that is ours in America. Additionally, I hoped that she would perceive an obligation to someday help those who have not been as well blessed as we Americans. Even those who are below the poverty line here in our own country have available resources that those in poverty in Haiti do not. Four years ago I took a similar trip

The MERRIAM INSURANCE AGENCY is part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) “Best Practices” Study Group. Each year since 1993, IIABA and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm, join forces to study the country’s leading agencies in six revenue categories.

For the third year in a row, we have received the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association’s (IIABA) Best Practices Award. In order to qualify, insurance agencies are nominated by state associations or insurance companies and must qualify based on the agency's operational excellence. Of 1200 agencies nominated nationwide, only 224 qualify for the top honor. To be chosen, the agency has to be among

To retain our Best Practices Agency status we must submit our year-end results for review each year. Every third year, when new agency nominations are accepted, we must re-qualify as one of the top performers in our revenue category in order to retain our spot. A new study cycle starts in 2013 and we will be competing against new agency participants. Participation in the Best Practices Study has become a prestigious recognition

Merriam Insurance is a national full-service insurance agency providing risk management and insurance expertise. From personal to commercial, for-profits and not-for-profits, Merriam Insurance has been providing protection for the financial needs of clients since 1895. Merriam Insurance is nationally recognized and awarded for great service, timely education, right-sized policies and clear communication.